New York Truehttp://www.newyorktrue.com
Insight, analysis and reporting on New York and national politicsSat, 19 May 2018 15:28:55 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.6Photo Gallery: James AG Kickoffhttp://www.newyorktrue.com/photo-gallery-james-ag-kickoff/
Sat, 19 May 2018 15:28:55 +0000http://www.newyorktrue.com/?p=8650Continue reading Photo Gallery: James AG Kickoff→]]>New York City Public Advocate kicked off her campaign for New York State attorney general with a Brooklyn rally and brief press conference. Appearing with about 100 supporters Wednesday James declared that she’s seeking the Democratic nomination for attorney general, but she is not seeking to be appointed by the state legislature to the roughly six month balance of former attorney general Eric Schneiderman’s term. James has also said that she’s not seeking the Working Families Party nomination for attorney general, reportedly under pressure from Governor Andrew Cuomo.

]]>Alicandro Launcheshttp://www.newyorktrue.com/alicandro-launches/
Wed, 16 May 2018 16:17:57 +0000http://www.newyorktrue.com/?p=8641Continue reading Alicandro Launches→]]>Republican Manny Alicandro launched his campaign for attorney general last week, appearing on Wall Street in front of Federal Hall. Alicandro’s appearance was low wattage, without a backdrop of supporters and a limited showing of party leaders with one Republican county chair, Mike Rendino of the Bronx, and two Conservative Party chairman, Tom Long of Queens and Gerard Kassar of Brooklyn joining him.

The race was transformed hours later as incumbent attorney general Eric Schneiderman suddenly resigned, shortly after The New Yorker reported on multiple allegations of assault by Schneiderman against romantic partners. Schneiderman had been widely viewed as virtually certain to be reelected to a third term, and the Republican Party had found little interest from potential candidates. At his launch Alicandro appeared to likely be the only candidate for the Republican and Conservative Party nominations, but additional prospective candidates have surfaced in the wake of Schneiderman’s resignation.

Alicandro described himself as a lifelong Republican and an enthusiastic supporter of President Trump, saying that “overall I think he’s doing a great job.” Alicandro expressed skepticism on the numerous lawsuits filed by the OAG under Schneiderman against President Trump and the federal government, suggesting that he would end most of those actions. He offered little concern about the Russia investigation, saying that “I’m not really going to get involved in that.”

His professional experience is primarily in financial services regulatory work, currently working for Mana Partners LLC. (Mana Partners describes itself as a trading, technology and asset management firm.”) Alicandro’s bio includes JPMorgan Chase, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, NASDAQ and Merril Lynch as prior employers.

Alicandro estimated that he’ll need to raise approximately $2 million , expressing optimism that he’ll do so.

On policy issues, Alicandro said that supports voter ID laws but does not support legalizing marijuana.

]]>Photo Gallery: Nixon at Cannabis Rallyhttp://www.newyorktrue.com/photo-gallery-nixon-at-cannabis-rally/
Wed, 16 May 2018 16:17:44 +0000http://www.newyorktrue.com/?p=8636Continue reading Photo Gallery: Nixon at Cannabis Rally→]]>Gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon appeared at a Union Square rally following the Pro-Cannabis Parade last Saturday, urging full legalization of marijuana. Speaking to about 1,000 people Nixon cast her support as primarily driven by racial disparity in marijuana arrests, declaring that “I want to do it first and foremost because it’s a racial justice issue.”

Legalization has moved close to, if not quite right inside, the political mainstream in recent years. It’s still somewhat outside that mainstream with New York elected officials however, and that distance was reflected in the paucity of electeds and candidates appearing at this rally. Although the rally was fairly heavy on gubernatorial candidates, with Nixon, Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins and Reform Party hopeful Joel Giambra appearing, neither Andrew Cuomo or Marc Molinaro appeared or have voiced support for full legalization. Assembly Member Dick Gottfried, who proudly touted his 1975 bill that decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana, and Council Member and candidate for lieutenant governor Jumaane Williams also spoke.

]]>Working Families Party For Nixon, Williamshttp://www.newyorktrue.com/working-families-party-for-nixon-williams/
Mon, 30 Apr 2018 19:37:28 +0000http://www.newyorktrue.com/?p=8631Continue reading Working Families Party For Nixon, Williams→]]>The Working Families Party endorsed Cynthia Nixon for governor and Jumaane Williams for lieutenant governor, rejecting its 2014 path of political accommodation and instead supporting Nixon and Williams over Governor Andrew Cuomo and Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. The 2014 endorsements were contentious, with a pragmatic view of the utility of supporting Cuomo’s reelection overcoming the ideological kinship many in the party had with Zephyr Teachout and Tim Wu. Several large unions have left the WFP since then however, with 32BJ and CWA withdrawing just ahead of the Nixon endorsement.

The endorsements do not formally give Nixon and Williams the WFP’s nomination, but they did clearly express the overall view of the party. Nixon and Williams are expected to be formally designated at the WFP’s May 19th convention and, unless any other prospective candidate successfully petitions onto the primary ballot, become the WFP’s nominees.

Nixon arrived to a warm reception, with members greeting her with applause at the hotel’s entrance and walking with her to the upstairs meeting. The Democratic Rural Conference was then holding its annual meeting in the same hotel, but Nixon did not visit or meet with any DRC attendees. Although Nixon was billed as having a “press conference” after the endorsement she left immediately after her speech without taking any press questions.

]]>Gillibrand at DRC 2018http://www.newyorktrue.com/gillibrand-at-drc-2018/
Mon, 30 Apr 2018 19:36:54 +0000http://www.newyorktrue.com/?p=8625Continue reading Gillibrand at DRC 2018→]]>U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand attended the recent Spring meeting of the Democratic Rural Conference. Attending on Saturday, when most of the elected officials and some of the attendees had departed from the two day meeting, Gillibrand had the stage to herself for a speech and Q&A.

As a member of the House of Representatives Gillibrand represented a substantially rural district which included the meeting site. She was warmly welcomed by attendees, including numerous congressional candidates running in Democratic primaries. Gillibrand broadly praised those congressional candidates, and readily posed for photos with them, but said afterwards that she does not plan to endorse any candidates in the Democratic congressional primaries. Gillibrand also said afterwards that she intends to vote against the confirmation of Mike Pompeo as secretary of state.

Video:

Here is Gillibrand’s full speech:

On primary endorsements & Pompeo nomination:

]]>Democratic Rural Conference 2018http://www.newyorktrue.com/democratic-rural-conference-2018/
Mon, 30 Apr 2018 19:35:48 +0000http://www.newyorktrue.com/?p=8621Continue reading Democratic Rural Conference 2018→]]>The Democratic Rural Conference drew nearly all of New York State’s major Democratic elected officials to its 2018 annual meeting, with Governor Andrew Cuomo, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, NYS Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, NYS Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand leading the elected attendees. Rep. Paul Tonko, Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, NYS Senator Michael Gianaris, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and NYC Council Member and candidate for lieutenant governor Jumaane Williams also attended. The DRC is composed of Democrats from small counties who for the past 20 years have worked jointly to increase their impact in state politics.

Hochul, DiNapoli, Schneiderman, Stewart-Cousins and Brown spoke at the DRC’s Friday night dinner, lauding the DRC and looking toward a November “blue wave.” Cuomo held a closed-press reception Friday evening, avoiding reporters as he entered and left through a back door. Gillibrand attended on Saturday, speaking to a a smaller number of remaining attendees in a solo appearance. U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer did not attend.

Video:

Here are the speeches from the meeting’s prime event, a Friday night dinner.

]]>Photo Gallery: Electeds Rally With 32BJhttp://www.newyorktrue.com/photo-gallery-electeds-rally-with-32bj/
Thu, 19 Apr 2018 16:06:46 +0000http://www.newyorktrue.com/?p=8614Continue reading Photo Gallery: Electeds Rally With 32BJ→]]>New York elected officials flocked to Park Avenue to support 32BJ SEIU in its contract talks with building owners. Thousands of 32BJ SEIU union members gathered for a rally featuring speeches from many of those elected officials and culminating in a vote to authorize a strike should negotiations fail. Elected officials attending included Governor Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Public Advocate Tish James, Comptroller Scott Stringer and many state and city legislators.

]]>Photo Gallery: Cuomo At the Subway Yardhttp://www.newyorktrue.com/photo-gallery-cuomo-at-the-subway-yard/
Thu, 19 Apr 2018 16:06:16 +0000http://www.newyorktrue.com/?p=8606Continue reading Photo Gallery: Cuomo At the Subway Yard→]]>Governor Andrew Cuomo visited the MTA’s 207th Street Overhaul Shop to tout his “Subway Action Plan.” Now fully funded through a state budget provision that forced New York City to provide half of the required funding, the Subway Action Plan is intended to address some of the myriad problems facing the subway system. Among those accompanying Cuomo was MTA Chairman Joe Lhota and TWU President John Samuelsen. A post-tour press conference included Samuelsen attacking Mayor Bill de Blasio as Cuomo stood stone faced.